He refused to comment on reports that he and the board of Weinstein Company had been aware of Weinstein’s settlements with women during recent contract negotiations, saying only that the board “did not know the extent of my brother’s actions”.

The New York Police Department is looking into an allegation against Weinstein dating from 2004 and is reviewing whether there are any additional complaints.

Media captionOn some red carpets, Harvey Weinstein is not a welcome subject

The last time Harvey Weinstein was seen in public, outside his daughter’s home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, he told reporters: “Guys, I’m not doing OK but I’m trying. I got to get help. You know what, we all make mistakes.”

“Mr Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual,” her statement added.